In the previous three notes, I gave a summary of the trips that Alexander Spotswood made as official business in the period 1711 to 1717. Broadly, there were eleven episodes, some involving more than one trip. Ten of these episodes were concerned with relations with the Indians. We can see that a major part of his time and efforts were devoted to this broad question. Incidentally, it appears to me that he had an enlightened attitude toward the Indians, especially for that time.
For anyone who lived on the frontiers, as our Germanna ancestors did, the Indian question would have been a lively topic. There was an element of uncertainty in the relations with the Indians and it was not always predictable what they might do.
On Spotswood's first trip to Germanna (in 1714), he put the mileage at 322 whereas John Fontaine put it at 292. Perhaps Spotswood wandered a bit more than Fontaine did. Some observers have thought that Spotswood went on to the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on this trip but the mileage statements would say that his excursions beyond Germanna were very limited. One could conclude that the objective of the trip was definitely Germanna. This was not surprising in view of his partial ownership of a projected silver mine a few mines from Germanna. He probably explored that site some.
Spotswood's attitude toward the pass in the Blue Ridge ("great Western") Mountains was casual. He resolved, not to fortify, defend or extend the range of Virginia, but to see the place for himself. The one possible objective mentioned was to provide safety in a fort from which Indian trade could be conducted. One should note that this could be a personal objective since he was an investor in the Indian Trading Company which had a monopoly on the Indian trade. Though, at the time, people in Virginia thought that his real interest was in finding mines. We now know that the principal outcome of the trip was his obtaining a tract of 40,000 acres which was broadly located in the region west of Germanna.
It would be entertaining to know what the expenses were for the trans-mountain trip with 63 men and 74 horses with their "supplies".
Apparently, Spotswood visited Germanna only twice before 1717. Once was on the occasion of locating Fort Germanna, and the second was the occasion of the trip over the mountains.
One must sympathize with Spotswood over his attempts to recover his expenses.
(24 Dec 04)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.